1. What is Gain per Mile?

Gain per mile is a measurement used in hiking, running, and cycling to quantify the steepness of a route. It represents the average elevation gain per mile traveled, providing a standardized way to compare the difficulty of different routes.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses a simple formula:

Where:

• Total Gain — Total elevation gain in feet
• Miles — Total distance in miles

Explanation: This calculation provides the average elevation increase for each mile of the route, helping to quantify the steepness of a trail or road.

3. Importance of Gain per Mile Calculation

Details: Understanding gain per mile helps athletes and outdoor enthusiasts prepare for routes, estimate difficulty, compare different trails, and plan training accordingly. It's particularly useful for hikers, trail runners, and cyclists to gauge the intensity of a route.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the total elevation gain in feet and the total distance in miles. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the average elevation gain per mile.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is considered a steep gain per mile?
A: Generally, 500-750 ft/mi is considered moderate, 750-1,000 ft/mi is steep, and over 1,000 ft/mi is very steep. These values can vary based on individual fitness levels and terrain.

Q2: How does gain per mile relate to grade percentage?
A: Grade percentage can be estimated by dividing gain per mile by 52.8 (since 1 mile = 5,280 feet, so 100 ft/mile ≈ 1.89% grade).

Q3: Should I consider descent in this calculation?
A: No, gain per mile only considers elevation gain, not loss. Some routes may have significant elevation changes that aren't captured by this single metric.

Q4: How accurate is this measurement for route planning?
A: It provides a good overall measure of steepness but doesn't account for variations within the route. A route with consistent incline will feel different than one with steep sections followed by flat areas, even if they have the same gain per mile.

Q5: Can I use kilometers instead of miles?
A: This calculator uses miles. For kilometers, you would need to convert or use a different calculator specifically designed for metric measurements.